Police have said the dogs who attacked Hernandez were pit bulls or pit-bull mixes that got out of a neighbor’s yard.

Detroit police at the scene where three dogs attacked and killed a 9-year-old girl. (Max Ortiz/AP)

Pierre Cleveland, the dogs’ owner, has been charged with second-degree murder, among other charges, for not controlling the animals.

“The owner of these dogs should be held accountable,” Detroit Police Chief James said last week to reporters. “Certainly the owner has a responsibility when they have violent animals that those animals are to be secured at all times. If you can’t secure the animal, you shouldn’t have the animal. Period.”

A person at the scene shot and killed one of the dogs during the attack. Witnesses threw bricks at the dogs in an attempt to stop them from hurting Hernandez.